Dear friends, that might be it for now. Slush China is ready to move on to 2016. We’ve done a cool event, opened the gate and bridged the new team with key organizations. Superbig thanks to all who have been creating history on a Slush wagon in China! It’s a good start.

I’m likely moving into new challenges, which is probably good thing for me, the team and the Slush project in China. It’s best to leave the floor fully for the next generation. The torch is passed on. Put the movement and the community benefit ahead of your own ego. I loved to work here and feel privileged of having the chance to know so many great people.

All eyes open for new challenges. I haven’t locked my next steps yet. The following 2-3 weeks will be crucial. If you’re interested to have me in your team or company, don’t hesitate to contact!

The torch is passed on. Let’s take a good care of it. Slush is a promise of a better tomorrow. Let’s live up to that.

幸苦了 大家，继续加油！

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What’s behind of it all, how do I feel?

Perhaps feeling a bit like Steve Jobs in 1985. Being kicked out from your own company. A big shock came this week. While preparing our superimportant stuff for this Spring, which we had initiated, got a talk from our CEO and my friend, Chen: “Lauri, you’re out. I’ve decided so.” The other team supported that. The whole world blanched and stopped existing for awhile.

What the f**k?

After the initial shock I realized: this is how it should go. My job was to take Slush to China, build the first event, gather the essential people here and make one hell of a buzz. That was the first step, and that was so 2015.

What s the thing for this year?

I might need to give space for the new folks to rise up and do their thing. Aaltoes changes their head every year. Julius doesn’t stay hanging around in the core after 2015, but goes into new challenges. Miki didn’t stay in the core of Slush after 2014, but gave fully the floor for Riku and folks. Comparisons are scarce for those supermen, but there’s some wit into it: in Slush, Sauna or Aaltoes, no one stays hanging around and sticks into meddling after they leave. You reposition yourself in the outer circle, where you can still support and care, but take distance, take some new challenges and give the floor fully for new folks.

 

That’s what I’m gonna do too. It isn’t though easy. It was probably good to come back here and help to bridge and Kickstart stuff again for this year, but now things ARE developing awesomely forward. And I am not needed anymore. The papa can give the children a high five and kick in the arse, you can do it, you’ll be awesome.

The new team is independent, dedicated, committed and full of energy. They have a new vision and they’re ready to take Slush to the next level in China. It cannot be done with the same ideas as last year. 2015 was about bringing people together and opening up the gate. It was a super heavy gate, but it’s open now and people can walk through that path. I’ll step aside with a tear in my eye, but fully convinced that this team will be super awesome and will make amazing stuff this year. Slush is standing on a very firm ground at this stage. And it’s going to be not only in Beijing but eventually hopefully all over China.

 

I have to think about what to do next. I believe that when one door closes, another one is opening near. That’s where I should look towards too. Would love to keep on supporting exchanges between China and the world, and those youth people who have a dream, a spark in their eye, to take it to the next level. I’d be happy to work with projects with a broader meaning. But first I may take a small break, do my own “Kaato”, and take some distance, before coming back with full force and new setting.

Before I’ve kept all the doors close due to Slush, that has been my life job for the merely past year. That’s now changed and I’m open for new challenges. The Slush China project is also ready to take the next step and I’m okay to jump into new. I’ll start from next week actively search for the next challenges.

Meanwhile I wish all the best and am happy to support from a distance. Close to my heart have been this Spring e.g. Slush Asia, Antti and the team and Moi Helsinki with an the awesome team in Helsinki, Slush HQ, the last year and this year new teams, keep on doing awesome stuff!

Wish all the best for everybody and super awesome thanks for all,

We’ve made amazing things together and grown a lot,

If you never give up, you’ll never fail.

Thank you all, never fear failure, always keep your head up, look with bright minds into the future, always love the people and things you do,

Never look too much back and keep on pushing forward,

That’s what this is all about.

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I hope all the best for the Slush China project I find so dear. Luovuus = luovu + uus. We should now and always put the common good in front of your own personal dreams. I had big dreams for Slush in China, but those dreams will live on in the new team and the growing next generation of world-conquering Chinese youth. We’ve seen Alibaba, Baidu, Tencent, Xiaomi, but we haven’t seen nothing yet. China is becoming the global center of innovation and the the next pioneers are coming more and more from here. Slush has been happy to support that development, build bridges and inspire more and more Chinese youth to grow and to take it to the next level. I am also superproud, happy priviledged to have had the chance to be part of and accelerating that wave.

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Super big thanks for all involved! I’m confident that the the next wave will be even higher and take Slush World and China to amazing new heights!

I’ve truly loved this stuff. I’m so thankful for all the amazing people for lifting me up! In the end people are all that matters.

 

Catch you all soon,

Lauri,

Tang Ming